Body hoist



A. P. PETERSON BODY HOIST Jan. 28, 1930.

Filed Feb. 13, 1928 abbot/ww Patented Jan. 28, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BODY HOIST Application iled February 13, 1928.

This invention relates to hoists, and has particular reference to a device of this character adapted for use in the manipulation of a corpse; the principal object being to provide means for the more convenient transfer of a body from place to place as for example in undertaking parlors, or the handling of a corpse in dressing or undressing same.

Another object is to provide simple and convenient means for readily changing the angle of the corpse when suspended in the device.

Still another object is to provide a convenient means for the storage of the complete mechanism when not in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the further description thereof.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this application, and wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the general assembly of one of my improved hoisting mechanisms;

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical section on the line 2 2, Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the worm assembly taken at right angles to Figure 2.

The device as before stated pertains to a practical and convenient installation for an undertaking parlor, and within a suitable room for the purpose is installed a suspended overhead track indicated at 1, it preferably being of the box-like type such as used for barn door construction. In the preferred arrangement this track is made to terminate at one end within the cabinet 2, which is at tached to or adjacent one wall of the room in which the device is installed, and this cabinet is provided with folding doors 3 as shown which meet about the track when closed, and the cabinet is of sufficient size to conveniently house the entire corpse hoist.

The hoisting mechanism comprises the trolley or angle 4 to which is attached any desired chain block unit indicated at 5, the lowermost hook 6 of which is engaged with the upright 7 of the adjusting unit, and the lower end of which upright is pivoted Serial No. 253,808.

as at 8 within the quadrant 9 which is rigidly fixed to the body beam 10. This beam is of sufficient length to conveniently suspend an ordinary body, it having a hook 11 at one end and of somewhat lesser size than a similar hook 12 at the other end; one being for engagement with the neck of a corpse and the other for suspending the feet or lower portion of the legs. Substantially midway the ends of the beam'lO are suspended a air 00 of hooks 13 which are for engagement agout the waist portion of the body or corpse, and these hooks being flattened adjacent their free ends are conveniently insertible beneath a prone body so that the entire manipulation may be conveniently accomplished by a single attendant or operator.

Adjacent one end of the beam 10, as at 14, is pivotally united a short extension member 15 having a hole in its opposite free end, the 70 same being for adjustment longitudinally of the beam and extending therebeyond so that for an abnormally long corpse this eX- tension may be used and the hook 12 attached to the extreme end thereof; otherwise the eX- tension is allowed to remain folded over ontol the back of the beam 10 as shown in the illustration.

The upright 7 I prefer to construct of two like flat pieces of metal the lower ends of which straddle the quadrant 9 and just above same are shaped in any desired manner to form a convenient journal for the shaft 16 which is mounted therein and carries the worm 17 which is at all times in mesh with the teeth formed upon the peripheral edge of the quadrant 9. Upon opposite ends of the shaft 16 are mounted knob-like hand controls for convenient rotation of the shaft when it becomes desired to change the angle of the quadrant in the upright and thereby tilt the body being suspended within the mechanism. The convenience of having a knob on both ends of the shaft 16 is apparent when consideration is given to the fact that an attendant will be operating first on one side and then the other when he may reach with either hand for the manipulation of the shaft in tilting the body, particularly during the process of dressing the same.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have devised an exceedingly simple and prac* tical hoist and body manipulating mechanism and one Which may be stored in as convenient and inconspicuous a manner as possible.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination an overhead track, a portable hoist suspended within the track, a corpse suspending beam suspended Within the hoist, and means intermediate the beam and hoist for adjustably fixing the angle of the beam.

2. A corpse support comprising a beam, a plurality of corpse engaging members pivotally suspended from said beam, suspending means attached to said beam whereby the beam may be fixed at any desired angle.

3. A corpse support comprising a beam, a plurality of corpse engaging members pivotally suspended from said beam, suspending means attached to said beam characterized by having means for fixedly adjusting the angle of the beam.

4. A device of the character described comprising in combination a corpse suspending beam, a quadrant fixed centrally of said beam, an upright member pivotally mounted to said uadrant, a shaft and worm rotatably carried y the said uprightmember and in permanent engagement with the quadrant, and means for manually rotating the shaft for the urpose described.

5. A lioist of the character described comprising an overhead track, a selective hoisting means depending from the track, a corpse supporting mechanism suspended by the hoist, and means intermediate of the hoist and corpse support for regulating the angle of the latter for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALFRED P. PETERSON. 

